Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 7

...And then, and then that's when I said, Bitch, if you ain't gonna- Apparently I walked in in the middle of Wynell's sexist story.

Ho, Marika! Etirn looked surprised that I came back. He was wearing his machine things again.

Before I could start to apologize about my actions earlier, Wynell started talking to me. You know, I've never seen anyone that mad except for my ex-wife, but I will overlook that to evaluate your performance. Two things stand out when you fight. Firstly, it's rare to see someone demonstrate such proficiency in their first dance; you really did well, given no training. The reason is that, during that performance, I could see you turn off your rational, conscious mind.

You say I don't think? I could feel anger bubbling up again.

Well, yes. But don't be killing me yet! Hey! Hey, it's a good thing! I unclench my fists. To be able to shut out the slow logic behind rationalizing your moves and rely on the lightning-fast reflexes of your instincts...you become more dangerous, like an animal that chooses to fight over flight. The other thing that sticks out is how you move. You tend to throw your entire body into the fight, you don't use just your arms or legs. I think a traditional blade would stifle this. Instructor looks me over one more time, then nods. You have serious potential. I have a friend who used to clean the Hunter's Guild in Aiedo a long time ago, before it burned down. He gave me something years ago, and I think you just might be the right person to use it. Look inside the chest behind my desk.

I look at Etirn, and he simply shrugs. I go behind the desk, and quickly find an old caravan chest, one of the ones used to hold more valuable goods for transit. It wasn't locked, and brushing aside the dust shows that there's no logo marking which company used it. I open the chest and procure something wrapped in cloth. I could smell some kind of oil in the cloth as I moved it onto the desk. Noticing my interest in the cloth, Etirn walked over and touched it. Rubbing his fingers together, It's some kind of lubricating oil. I've seen it on some of my projects, but nobody can make this variety in modern times. What is this?

Let the girl see for herself, was all Wynell said. I proceeded to remove the cloth. Along with several pieces of paper inside of a clear bag of a unique material, there are two strange objects. Instructor wordlessly tells me to put one on, so I take one and put it on my hand, where it seems to fit. Looking at the object, it appears as a plate-style hand guard, like what polearm users often wear. It starts just beyond my wrist and extends a short distance past my knuckles. Atop the guard, three round features extend about an inch beyond a closed fist, and curved blades extend another 9 inches further. As I look at the device on my arm, Etirn opens the bag and begins sifting through the paper. I notice him stop at a cryptic-looking drawing of the device.

What are those, Etirn?

Production drawings. This is a complicated piece. According to the title block, it was designed at Zelan. It only has a number in the drawn by slot. It's called a claw.

A claw? I could see how it could be called that.

I think I should send these drawings to the Technology lab. As Etirn began sorting through the pictures, I notice a handwritten note and pick it up.

To the one who may find this, I was once a naïve soul. For my entire life, I lived in the sterile shelter of an ancient complex, learning about the world outside, yet never experiencing it myself. One day, a man, a professor by trade, had discovered my home. Before he could enter, he was attacked by a Biomonster. I should mention now that it could be argued that I myself could qualify as such a thing, as I was designed as a synthesis of Parmanian and Monster blood. I came upon the situation, and intervened to protect the poor soul from a violent death. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the professor's student, another member of Piata Academy, had set out in search of him, with the assistance of a small group of heroes- I guess, future heroes, since they hadn't yet known what they were fighting for at the time. Reaching the core of the complex, they found the professor intact and brought me under their wing, at my father's request. They took me away from the world I've always known, and brought me into the world I've always fantasized. Unfortunately, my father, one of only two people I knew when I was growing up, destroyed himself. I understand why, he was trying to protect Motavia from the blight that the Biomonsters are, but he sacrificed himself and left only memories of my innocent past.

I continued on with the warriors, among them a young hunter, growing ever stronger and wiser. Eventually, we came face-to-face with a dark god, an ancient and pure evil only known as "The Profound Darkness". We succeeded in purging it from both our and its own dimensions, and with our mission of protecting Algo fulfilled, our group disbanded. While my knowledge and abilities were desired to help my other childhood friend with maintaining the ecosystems of Motavia and Dezolis, I had found that I had fallen in love, and chose to stay with him instead. I continued to help the young hunter in his assignments so I could stay close to him since he constantly travelled for a time, but I can no longer feel the will to fight within myself.

I have chosen to renounce my past despite my accomplishments, so that I may lead a peaceful existence with the man I love. As I write, I can sense our unborn child within me, and I surrender the last relics of my youth, so that if Light wills it, they may one day be taken up once more by the hands of another willing to fight to protect what is most dear to them.

-R, AW 2296

I could almost feel the emotions the writer had when she wrote the letter. Like a mix of happiness for the future and a longing for the past...

I've never heard of anything like this. Wynell, do you know who wrote this? Etirn inquired.

No, it's only signed with an R. My friend said he found it while sorting out the backroom for the hunter's bar. He asked the patrons about it, and a retired hunter told a story about an attractive woman in a bodysuit, but the drunk was too damn slurred for him to make sense of.

Did you show the package to any of the professors?

Of course. The Technology professor used some crazy lookin' machine to measure the carbon radios, or something like that. He said it appears authentic to the year. The chemistry department reported that the blades on the claws seem to be some kind of Titanium-Steel alloy, with properties balanced for weapons, but it's nothing like the alloys that the Motavians use. The oil in the cloth is also unique to Pre-Collapse machines, so who knows what the truth is apart from good ole' R? If there was any more information, it went with the rest of Aiedo when it burned.

I put on the other claw and took a couple light swings at thin air, trying out the weapons. They fit perfectly...

Good. Enough of this thinking shit. With a weapon to suit your style, I want you to go through this big door into the Gauntlet. There is a big green monster, called an 'Igglanova', capable of spitting out smaller pink ones called 'Xanafalgue', and the occasional mutant that is a bit harder to beat. Kill it without being knocked unconscious or dying. Etirn, you wanna go as backup?

Alright, I'll show off my toy one more time, but I'd like to save some cartridges for the field. It takes hours to make more...

Good. Marika, try not to kill him this time. Finish this task, and I'll believe you to have the ability to go in the field without further training.

I nod, and go through the big metal door.

Next chapter

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